Chalo, bookstore!

In an age where we can swipe left on reality and bingewatch entire shows without moving off the couch the unexpected resurgence of bookstores feels almost subversive Who would have thought that in a world dominated by algorithms and ereaders people would start flocking to these musty havens of ink and paper once againQuite the plot twist isnrsquot it For years wersquove been told that physical books were on their way out that ereaders and smartphones would render them obsolete Yet here we are witnessing the improbable comeback of the bookstore The irony is almost deliciousReaders browse through the collection at Fictionary Bandrarsquos latest literary retreatSo what is driving this renaissance of the written word and why are these quaint brickandmortar havens suddenly back in vogueA report issued by the Federation of Indian Publishers in 2022 said that the Indian print book market is anticipated to reach around US12 billion in value by the end of 2024 This number demonstrates a significant growth in the consumer base for physical booksldquoEbook sales are declining internationallyrdquo says Anup Jerajani of The White Crow Books and Coffee in BKC which opened in October 2021 ldquoThough convenient customers canrsquot get a browsing experience on an online store making bookstores a nostalgic institutionrdquo Itrsquos almost as if wersquore collectively realising that the socalled digital revolution isnrsquot all that itrsquos cracked up to berdquoKitab Khanarsquos patrons can also indulge in delightful treats at the inhouse cafe Subko Mini while exploring the bookstorersquos carefully curated collectionThe rise of digital platforms over the last two decades transformed how we consume media Ebooks promised a future of convenience and portability but in the shift from paper to pixels the tactile and emotional connection to physical books seemed to fadeldquoOver the years as tech has evolved looking for books online has mostly been driven by algorithms and many people find this quite restrictiverdquo says Ahalya Naidu the cofounder of Trilogy an indie bookstore that began its journey in 2014 and moved to the bylanes of Bandra West Furthermore ldquoPost COVID customers and readers are suffering from digital fatiguerdquo says Jerajani In contrast to the fleeting and ephemeral nature of online content bookstores offer a tactical and immersive experienceHence bookstores have become an antidote to the digital agersquos sensory deprivation In the words of Stephan Fry ldquobooks are no more threatened by the Kindle than stairs by elevatorsrdquo After all you canrsquot dogear a PDF and curling up with a good ereader just doesnrsquot have the same ring to itEnthusiastic Mumbaikars take part in a book swap organised by White Crow Books and Coffee at Jio World Drive BKCFor a reader therersquos something especially fulfilling about browsing shelves and the thrill of hauling home a carefully selected loot cannot be matchedrdquo says Naidu And therein lies the secret sauce of the revival of bookstores in 2024 serendipityUnlike the cold calculated recommendations of an online retailer which are based on your past purchases and browsing history physical bookstores offer the thrill of the unexpected You walk in looking for the latest bestseller and walk out with an obscure poetry collection or a tome on the history of Byzantine artldquoPeople love doing this If you observe a patron of a bookstore will stop at every single shelf to see whatrsquos there A reader picks up a book skims the blurb and a few pages and then decides whether to take itrdquo says Anup Nair the vision behind Fictionary Bandrarsquos freshest literary retreat that launched just two weeks agoAhalya Naidu Anup Nair T Jagath and Trushant TamgaonkarBut it is not just the element of surprise thatrsquos bringing people back through the doors of bookstoresmdashitrsquos the experience they have to offer In a world where shopping has been reduced to an isolating solitary click bookstores offer something profoundly different human interactionTrushant Tamgaonkar the Executive Director of Title Waves a distinctive boutique bookstore in which opened in Bandra in 2011 says ldquoOver the last few years our footfall has increased by almost 15 per cent We owe this of course to the new pool of readers that have emerged recently but also to the community building experiences that Title Waves has to offer With events such as book launches live music open book discussions among others hosted on a monthly basis weare able to bring together a cohort of kindred spirits and likeminded individualsrdquoBookstores have become sanctuaries from the relentless pace of modern life They offer a kind of analogue refuge where you can unplug and unwind while enjoying a sweet treat or a cup of coffee or both ldquoBookstore cafes like Fictionary are chill hangout spots dating venues as well as good places to socialise and meet other readersrdquo says Nair Therersquos something special about walking into a bookstore to the combined aroma of paper and coffee something homely and almost nostalgicldquoThe coffee books aesthetic has proven to be a winning combinationrdquo says T Jagath the Chief Operating Officer of Kitab Khana a bookstore in Fort founded in 2010 often described as one of the best in Mumbai ldquoThough Kitab Khana has been fortunate to have a loyal customer base and benefits from positive wordofmouth marketing the cafe Subko Mini has undoubtedly contributed to an increased footfall and a more successful bookstore experience The cafe has become a hub within our store fostering a sense of community and making Kitab Khana a goto destination for book lovers and foodies alikerdquo he saysAnother contributing factor to the resurge of bookstores is the emergence of a new clientele ldquoPostpandemic wersquove seen a surge in young readers opting for fiction titlesrdquo says Jagath One could argue that the reason for this is platforms like BookTok or Bookstagram that have taken over social media with their literary recommendationsItrsquos a curious twist Though BookTok and Bookstagram are techdriven communities they have managed to make a significant contribution in compelling the younger generations especially fiction readers to put down the phone and pick up a book ldquoLiterary fiction romance thrillers fantasy fiction graphic novels have become significantly popular among youngsters in the last few yearsrdquo adds JerajaniThis is not to say that fiction that appeals to young adults is the only genre that is sought after at bookstores ldquoItrsquos been a great time for readers of all genresrdquosays Naidu ldquoscifi horror cozy crime reads translations from regional languages narrative nonfiction business and politics are all book genres that are drawing in a lot more readers across generationsrdquo The revival of the bookstore isnrsquot just about physical books itrsquos a celebration of diverse genres drawing readers from all walks of life The beauty lies in this variety that is making bookstores more dynamic inclusive and a space of inquiry for allBookstores offer more than just the thrill of finding a new novel or a great recommendation they provide the comfort of being surrounded by likeminded readers Far from being relics theyrsquore essential to the future of reading ldquoTherersquos no bigger joy than holding a book I discovered at a bookstore or had recommended to me by a fellow readerrdquo says Aaryan Panchal an avid reader of history politics and science Despite technological advances we still crave something real and tangibleSo herersquos to the bookstoremdasha place where irony and nostalgia community and solitude commerce and culture can all coexist Itrsquos a reminder that even in the 21st century therersquos still magic to be found between the pages of a book